COLD-PCR Technology

PI

Institution

IMAT Award Type

Mike Makrigiorgos

Dana Faber Cancer Institute

R33

COLD-­PCR (COamplification at Lower Denaturation temperature PCR) is a new technology that allows detection of DNA mutations when present in very low copy number ratios. COLD-­PCR preferentially enriches mutant DNA in a mutant/wild-­type mixture by exploitation of the critical temperature, Tc, at which mutation-­containing DNA is preferentially melted over wild-­type.

COLD-­PCR promises to provide the enhanced sensitivity and analytical accuracy necessary to screen cancer patients earlier in their individual development of this disease. The technology has been licensed in late 2009/early 2010 by Transgenomic from the Dana Farber Cancer Institute with an exclusive license for Sanger sequencing applications.